Service switch for utility meter

Abstract

A utility meter includes an electrical conductor portion, a service switch, and a heat sink. The electrical conductor portion provides electrical communication between a supply line terminal and a load line terminal, and the supply line terminal electrical communication an electrical source. The service switch is selectively operable to interrupt electrical communication between the supply line terminal and the load line terminal. The heat sink is in thermal communication with the electrical conductor portion to dissipate heat generated by a current passing through the electrical conductor portion between the supply line terminal and the load line terminal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A utility meter comprising:
 an electrical conductor portion providing electrical communication between a supply line terminal and a load line terminal, the supply line terminal in electrical communication with an electrical source; 
 a service switch selectively operable to interrupt electrical communication between the supply line terminal and the load line terminal; 
 a heat sink extending from the electrical conductor portion to dissipate heat generated by a current passing through the electrical conductor portion between the supply line terminal and the load line terminal; and 
 a base supporting the service switch and the heat sink, wherein the service switch is positioned adjacent to a first side of the base, and the heat sink is positioned adjacent to a second side of the base opposite the first side, the heat sink position at or adjacent to a central portion of the base. 
 
     
     
       2. The utility meter of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical conductor portion is a first electrical conductor portion, the current passing through the electrical conductor portion is a first current passing through the first conductor portion, the supply line terminal is a first supply line terminal, and the load line terminal is a first load line terminal, the utility meter further comprising a second electrical conductor portion providing electrical communication between a second supply line terminal and a second load line terminal, wherein the service switch is selectively operable to interrupt electrical communication between the first supply line terminal and the first load line terminal and also selectively operable to interrupt electrical communication between the second supply line terminal and the second load line terminal. 
     
     
       3. The utility meter of  claim 2 , wherein the first electrical conductor portion carries the first current having a first phase and the second electrical conductor portion carries a second current having a second phase different from the first phase. 
     
     
       4. The utility meter of  claim 2 , wherein the heat sink is a first heat sink, the utility meter further comprising a second heat sink extending from the second electrical conductor portion to dissipate heat generated by a second current passing through the second electrical conductor portion between the second supply line terminal and the second load line terminal. 
     
     
       5. The utility meter of  claim 1 , further comprising a current transformer positioned adjacent one of the supply line terminal and the load line terminal, the current transformer positioned in a recess. 
     
     
       6. The utility meter of  claim 1 , further comprising a current transformer positioned adjacent one of the supply line terminal and the load line terminal, the current transformer including a stacked coil extending around the one of the supply line terminal and the load line terminal, the stacked coil oriented parallel to the base supporting the supply line terminal and the load line terminal. 
     
     
       7. The utility meter of  claim 1 , wherein the heat sink includes a flat plate and a plurality of holes passing through the flat plate. 
     
     
       8. The utility meter of  claim 1 , wherein the supply line terminal includes a supply line blade configured to engage a first socket, and the load line terminal includes a load line blade configured to engage a second socket. 
     
     
       9. A utility meter comprising:
 a first electrical conductor portion providing electrical communication between a first supply line terminal and a first load line terminal, the first supply line terminal electrical communication an electrical source; 
 a second electrical conductor portion providing electrical communication between a second supply line terminal and a second load line terminal, the second supply line terminal in electrical communication with the electrical source; 
 a service switch selectively operable to interrupt electrical communication between the first supply line terminal and the first load line terminal, and to interrupt electrical communication between the first supply line terminal and the first load line terminal; 
 a first heat sink extending from the first electrical conductor portion to dissipate heat generated by a first current passing through the first electrical conductor portion between the first supply line terminal and the first load line terminal; 
 a second heat sink extending from the second electrical conductor portion to dissipate heat generated by a second current passing through the second electrical conductor portion between the second supply line terminal and the second load line terminal; and 
 a base supporting the service switch, the first heat sink, and the second heat sink, wherein the service switch is positioned adjacent to a first side of the base, and the first heat sink and second heat sink are positioned adjacent to a second side of the base opposite the first side, the first heat sink and the second heat sink positioned at or adjacent to a central portion of the base. 
 
     
     
       10. The utility meter of  claim 9 , wherein the first electrical conductor portion carries the first current having a first phase and the second electrical conductor portion carries the second current having a second phase different from the first phase. 
     
     
       11. The utility meter of  claim 9 , further comprising a pair of current transformers, each of the current transformers positioned adjacent an associated one of the first load line terminal and the second load line terminal, each of the current transformers positioned in an associated recess. 
     
     
       12. The utility meter of  claim 9 , further comprising a current transformer including a stacked coil extending around one of the first supply line terminal and the first load line terminal, the stacked coil oriented parallel to the base supporting the first supply line terminal and the first load line terminal. 
     
     
       13. The utility meter of  claim 9 , wherein the first heat sink is a different type of heat sink than the second heat sink. 
     
     
       14. The utility meter of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first heat sink or the second heat sink includes a flat plate and a plurality of holes passing through the flat plate. 
     
     
       15. The utility meter of  claim 9 , wherein the first supply line terminal includes a first blade configured to engage a first socket, and the second supply line terminal includes a second blade configured to engage a second socket.